Von Willebrand disease: diagnosis and management

Von Willebrand Disease is a common cause of excessive bruising and bleeding in children. This short article gives advice on diagnosis and management for paediatricians. Given its prevalence and presenting symptoms, VWD should always be considered in the assessment of children suspected of non-accidental injury. Its diagnosis can be challenging, not only because of the various subtypes of the disorder but because of the considerable overlap between VWD and normal individuals. Laboratory diagnosis requires a range of quantitative and qualitative tests of the VWF protein, with targeted gene analysis increasingly used to confirm the diagnosis of type 2 and type 3 VWD. Bleeding Assessment Tools may be helpful in directed laboratory testing but are often less so in young children who have had limited haemostatic challenges. Treatment for VWD includes the use of antifibrinolytic drugs, vasopressin or VWF-containing clotting factor concentrates. Treatment is often on-demand for individual bleeding episodes but there are specific indications for the use of prophylactic treatment in children.     

Does Outcome/Survival of Patients With Myelodysplastic Syndromes Should Be Predicted by Reduced Levels of ADAMTS-13? Results From a Pilot Study

IntroductionVon Willebrand factor (vWF) cleaving protease ADAMTS-13 has a key role for maintaining normal size of vWF. A deficiency or dysfunction of vWF cleaving protease is associated with ultra large vWF multimers and thrombotic microangiopathy. Patients with cancers have reduced levels of vWF cleaving protease. In this pilot study, we have evaluated whether or not deficiencies of ADAMTS-13 were present in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Moreover, we assessed if a reduction in basal levels of ADAMTS-13 may play a role in the prognosis of MDS.Patients and MethodsWe measured and compared the levels of vWF cleaving protease ADAMTS-13 in 100 patients with MDS and 35 healthy controls. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the International Prognostic Scoring System: group I consisting of 44 patients with low-risk MDS and group II of 56 patients with high-risk MDS. Patients with high-risk and low-risk MDS presented significantly lower levels of ADAMTS-13 than controls (P < .001 and P = .0177, respectively). High-risk patients had significantly lower levels of ADAMTS-13 when compared with the low-risk group (P < .001).ResultsWe found that reduced levels of ADAMTS-13 have a relationship with overall survival (P < .001). Statistical analysis showed that ADAMTS-13 correlates with cytogenetics (P < .001) and a tendency of slight correlation with platelet count and basal levels of ADAMTS-13 (R, 0.35; P value, 0.001). Moreover, we found that levels of ADAMTS-13 have correlation with response to treatment (P < .001).ConclusionsADAMTS-13 in MDS might represent a surrogate marker of prognosis, response to therapy, or disease progression. Further studies are needed.     

Spontaneous hemothorax associated with von Recklinghausen''s disease

Spontaneous hemothorax is a rare and life threatening complication of neurofibromatosis. Two types of vascular involvement have been described: (a) stenotic or aneurysmal alterations in large vessels such as the aorta and its branches; and (b) dysplastic features in smaller vessels. Thoracotomy and surgical ligation of the bleeding vessels is primarily indicated in the presence of active bleeding with associated hemodynamic compromise. A more conservative approach with endovascular embolization or non-operative management have also been reported in case of hemodynamic stability. We present a rare case of spontaneous hemothorax treated conservatively in a patient with von Recklinghausen's disease.     

History of haemophilia

Summary.  Haemophilia, an ancient disease, now has sophisticated methods for diagnosis and treatment. The genetically missing factors can now be supplied by fractionation of human-derived (HD) plasma or with recombinant technology (r). Making therapeutic choices is complicated by past transfusion-transmitted diseases. HD and r products now have similar safety profiles. Several diseases have only HD products for treatment. These products remain important in our treatment armamentarium.     

小鼠脑微血管内皮细胞株bEnd.3的细胞特征及基因表达谱分析

目的:对一种小鼠脑组织来源的血管内皮细胞株bEnd.3的主要细胞特征进行研究并做血管内皮细胞生物学功能基因芯片分析。方法:利用倒置显微镜、扫描和透射电子显微镜观察细胞形态特征;免疫细胞化学法显示血管内皮细胞特异性表面标志;ELISA定量检测PGE₂;流式细胞术、MTT法研究增殖和凋亡、血管内皮细胞基因芯片研究正常培养bEnd.3基因表达谱。结果:bEnd.3具备多种典型的微血管内皮细胞(MVEC)特征:细胞呈多边形或梭型、呈铺路石样生长;存在管腔样结构(TLS)和毛细血管样网络,细胞表面有丰富的微绒毛;vW因子、CD34阳性;CD31、CD36、CD105等也有不同程度的表达;细胞高水平分泌前列腺素E₂(PGE₂);多种与正常血管功能密切相关的基因也有不同程度的表达。结论:bEnd.3保留了MVEC的基本特性,可用于心脑血管疾病、肿瘤等重大疾病的发病机制的基础与临床研究。     

vWF在MODS中表达的免疫组化研究

目的 探讨血管性血友病因子(von willbrand factor,vWF)在多器官功能不全综合征(MODS)中的表达及其意义。方法 应用免疫组化技术,对MODS死亡标本的心、肺、肾组织vWF进行检测。结果 MODS组心、肺、肾组织vWF抗原表达多为弱阳性及阳性,对照组多为阳性及强阳性,两者间差异显著(P<0.01)。结论 MODS存在vWF抗原表达减少,vWF减少导致的凝血功能障碍可能是MODS的重要发病机制之一。     

血管内皮损伤标志物在2型糖尿病患者中的变化

目的:探讨2型糖尿病(DM)患者血管内皮损伤标志物的变化。方法:分别测定89例2型DM患者和76例正常对照者血浆可溶性血管内皮细胞蛋白C受体(sEPCR),血管性血友病因子(v WF)和可溶性血栓调节蛋白(sTM),并测定DM患者24h尿白蛋白排泄(UAE),根据尿UAE水平和病程分组进行比较分析。结果:2型DM患者血浆sEPCR、v WF及sTM水平高于正常对照组(P<0.05),并且与其尿UAE水平和病程呈显著正相关。结论:血浆sEPCR、v WF及sTM水平可作为观察2型DM并发血管病变以及严重程度的指标。     

血管内皮损伤标志物在肾移植患者中的应用价值

目的 :通过对肾移植患者血浆可溶性血栓调节蛋白 (solublethrombomdulin ,sTM)、可溶性血管内皮细胞蛋白C受体 (endothelialproteinCreceptor ,sEPCR)、血管性血友病因子 (vonWillebrandfactor,vWF)含量水平的动态检测分析 ,探讨其在肾移植及移植排斥反应中的应用价值。方法 :采用双抗体夹心ELISA法检测 4 2例肾移植患者手术前后、排斥反应治疗过程中的sTM、sEPCR、vWF含量。结果 :肾移植术后sTM、sEPCR、vWF含量水平较术前明显增高 (P <0 0 5 )、与正常对照组比较有显著性差异 (P <0 0 1) ;发生移植排斥反应者较无排斥者有明显差异 (P <0 0 5 ) ;肾移植术前、排斥反应有效治疗后与正常对照组比较无显著差异 (P >0 0 5 ) ;肾移植患者sTM、sEPCR、vWF各指标间呈正相关 (r =0 5 95 ,P <0 0 1,r =0 5 81,P <0 0 1,r =0 6 0 6 ,P <0 0 1)。结论 :sTM、sEPCR、vWF均可作为肾移植患者血管内皮的免疫损伤标志物 ,联合动态监测sTM、sEPCR、vWF的含量在观察肾移植手术创伤程度、排斥反应的早期诊断和治疗效果的监测等方面均有重要的临床应用价值。     

儿童肾病综合征患者血小板和血浆von Willebrand因子的变化

目的：观察儿童肾病综合征患者血小板计数和血浆von Willebrand因子的变化,方法,采用ELISA法检测58例NS患儿血浆vWF及血小板计数,并与正常对照组进行比较,结果：NS患儿vwF水平及血小板计数均明显高于正常对照组,两组有显著性差异（P＜0．01）,结论,血浆vWF与血小板计同步升高与NS患儿的高凝状态及血栓形成有一定的关系。